Developing Volunteers and Those Who Lead Them

I Don’t Enjoy My Role Anymore

A few months ago I shared some thoughts about listening to our feelings and listening for Holy Spirit prompts. I’ve noticed as of late that this topic keeps coming up in increased frequency. So I wanted to go back and revisit a few thoughts on following God and listening to our feelings.

Because if we are honest – sometimes there are large parts of our role on the team that once gave us energy and now seem to sap our energy. Things that once pumped us up now have the ability to demotivate.

How do you manage your feelings? What goes through your mind when the new car smell goes away? More than ever before, people allow feelings to be a primary decision maker in their lives. Feelings have become the main factor in deciding things like:

Who should I date? Should I get married? Should we get divorced? Should I make this big purchase? Should I get involved in this project? Should I quit my job? Should I stop serving on this team?

Our goal should be to find a healthy balance somewhere between ignoring our feelings and giving into whatever they want.

Many of us reach a point in our jobs as well as our volunteer roles where if we were honest we would say, “I just don’t enjoy this anymore.” Whether that feeling describes 10%, 50% or 99% of your role you have to figure out how to deal with those feelings.

Now I cannot tell you what you should do. That feeling could be the Spirit of God prompting you to make a change. It could also be bad pizza from last night.

While I am not sure what is informing your feelings, here are 4 questions to ask yourself when feelings of discontent rise up:

Did I choose this or did God place me in it?

Has something changed around me or in me?

Am I closer to or farther from the person I desire to be?

Is this seasonal or is this a new norm?

Hopefully the answer to those questions helps provide a little insight or guidance as you decide what to do next.

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One thought on “I Don’t Enjoy My Role Anymore”

Where did the idea come from that we are supposed to always “enjoy” whatever it is that we do vocationally. Sure, it’s nice if we do, but it is certainly not something that God has promised.
Faithfulness is what we can offer. From that, hopefully (and I believe usually) can and will come fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment. The “enjoy” part may he present, but even if it is, it will assuredly not be constant.